Coffee Development Strategy Support at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ethiopia

1.  Background

Ethiopia is the world’s fifth-largest coffee producer—after Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia—and Africa’s leading producer of Arabica coffee. In marketing year 2025/26, total production is forecast at approximately 694,000 metric tons (11.6 million 60-kg bags), harvested from around 790,000 hectares. Coffee is produced almost entirely by smallholder farmers, the majority of whom cultivate plots of less than two hectares, mostly without chemical inputs and grown organically under shade. The sector supports the livelihoods of approximately 15 million Ethiopians involved in coffee production and along the value chain. Coffee is the country’s principal export commodity, generating record export earnings of approximately USD 2.65 billion in fiscal year 2024/25 and accounting for around 30–35% of total export revenue.

Arabica coffee cultivation is limited to highland regions within the so-called “coffee belt.” Due to climate change, it is predicted that up to half of the area currently suitable for Arabica coffee cultivation may be lost by 2050—a concern referred to as the “Coffee 2050 Problem.” Warming trends and changing rainfall patterns have also led to the loss of biodiversity and threaten Ethiopia’s genetic resources for Arabica coffee. As the center of origin of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia holds an estimated 6,000–11,000 indigenous accessions and produces uniquely flavored coffee. The environmentally friendly production methods practiced by smallholder farmers are difficult to replicate in other countries and represent a distinctive strength of Ethiopian coffee.

In response to these climate-related challenges, the Government of Ethiopia has formulated the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy, the Green Legacy Initiative, and the 15-year Comprehensive Coffee Development Strategy (2019–2033), under which the country aims to become the world’s second-largest coffee producer and exporter and to reach annual export earnings of USD 4 billion by 2033. The coffee sector strategy focuses on increasing the production of export-standard coffee beans to enhance farmers’ livelihoods and resilience. Against this background, and in the context of recent regulatory developments such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Government of Ethiopia requested Japan—one of the world’s largest coffee-consuming countries—to support the formulation of a coffee development strategy through the dispatch of advisors well-versed in international coffee markets.

Within the Project, the systematic accumulation of cupping data and the analysis of Ethiopia’s coffee quality structure are positioned as the foundation for both quality improvement (“reducing negatives”) and breeding research related to climate change adaptation and flavor richness (“differentiating positives”). This “product-understanding-first” approach is intended to provide the basis for the medium- and long-term goals of genetic resource conservation and utilization, breeding research, and climate change adaptation.

2.  Objective

The National Project Senior Staff (hereinafter referred to as “the Staff”) shall provide continuous in-country support to the JICA expert team in implementing project activities. Specifically, the Staff shall serve as the principal liaison between the Project and Ethiopian counterpart institutions (including EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, MoA, JARC, and EBI), provide technical and operational support for the five project activities (A–E), support the operation of the Task Force, and ensure the continuity of project activities through the Task Force even during the absence of JICA experts.

3.  Project Outputs (for reference)

• The Staff’s duties contribute to the achievement of the following project outputs:
• Output 1: A Task Force for the collection and sharing of information on coffee sector development in Ethiopia is established, and regular meetings are held.
• Output 2: To contribute to a better understanding of the quality of Ethiopian coffee, a system is established for the systematic collection and organization of flavor characteristics and the actual conditions of coffee-producing regions.
• Output 3: Training programs and other measures aimed at improving coffee productivity and quality are examined and implemented on a pilot basis.

4.  Duties and Responsibilities

Project activities are, in principle, to be carried out primarily by Task Force members. JICA experts shall intervene only when there are difficulties—or a likelihood of difficulties—in implementation.

Under this principle and under the supervision of the JICA Expert, the Staff shall carry out the following duties:

4-1.  Counterpart Liaison and Activity Coordination

• Serve, in particular as the technical liaison, between the JICA expert team and Ethiopian counterpart institutions (including EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, MoA, JARC, and EBI).
• Maintain regular communication with counterpart focal points and ensure smooth information flow between the JICA expert team and the Ethiopian side.
• As required, support coordination and facilitation in project meetings, joint working sessions, and counterpart consultations.
• Follow up on the Action Plans developed by Task Force members and report progress to the JICA Expert.
• Promptly report to the JICA expert team any significant delays or losses—or the likelihood thereof—in project activities, and work with Task Force members to identify solutions.

4-2.  Support for the Various Activities Led by Task Force Members

• Support the implementation of field-level activities (surveys, research, etc.) carried out by Task Force members under the various project activities, including “Cupping Data Accumulation and Utilization Framework,” “Harmonization of Flavor Evaluation Criteria,” “Improvement of Genetic Resource Information Management,” and “Economic Effect Verification.”
• Coordinate communication with farmers, cooperatives, and local governments in relation to field-level activities.
• Support the collection of coffee-related information required for the implementation of the Action Plans of Task Force members.
• Support the identification of local challenges and good practices.

4-3.  Task Force Operation Support

• Support the facilitation and minute-taking of regular Task Force meetings.
• Follow up on the Action Plans developed by Task Force members and support information sharing among members.

4-4.  Continuation of Outcomes from Past JICA Projects

• Promote dialogue among stakeholders and maintain relationships in order to strengthen the stakeholder network in forest coffee regions.
• Collect information related to GIAHS registration and conservation activities.
• Support consultations conducted by residents, cooperatives, and administrative agencies toward GIAHS registration.
• Conduct monitoring of the above activities and report to the JICA Expert on a quarterly basis in the form of consolidated reports.

4-5.  Field Activities

• Accompany and participate in field surveys and site visits planned and implemented by Task Force members, providing support for information collection and interviews as required.
• Submit a field trip plan to the JICA Expert prior to departure and a written field trip report upon return.
• Conduct field activities within the safe areas designated under the project’s security management regulations.

4-6.  General Duties

• In cooperation with other project staff, provide translation and interpretation between Amharic and English in the course of project activities.
• In cooperation with other project staff, provide interpretation from Amharic to English at meetings attended by JICA experts.
• Support the preparation of minutes for project meetings, counterpart consultations, Task Force meetings, workshops, and donor meetings.
• Collect and organize activity-related data, documents, and information—including those submitted by the Task Force and other project stakeholders—and maintain systematic records.
• Submit quarterly work plans and progress reports to the JICA Expert every three months.
• Obtain prior approval from the JICA Expert for the implementation of activities and report outputs with supporting documents.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the JICA Expert.

5.  Required Qualifications

5-1.  Education

Master’s degree or higher in Agriculture, Plant Science, Food Science, Agricultural Economics, Biology, or a related field. A specialization in coffee, horticulture, or agricultural research is an advantage.

5-2.  Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the Ethiopian coffee sector, agricultural research, or related fields.
• Practical experience working with EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, JARC, MoA, EBI, or other coffee-related research and administrative institutions is desirable.
• Experience with coffee quality assessment, cupping (Q-Grader certification is a plus), or laboratory work is desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in donor-funded technical cooperation projects, particularly with JICA or other bilateral/multilateral agencies, is required.

5-3.  Skills and Competencies

• Sound understanding of the Ethiopian coffee value chain, the existing G1–G5 grading system, and the institutional landscape of Ethiopia’s coffee sector.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s coffee policy framework, including the CRGE Strategy and the Comprehensive Coffee Development Strategy, is desirable.
• Familiarity with international regulatory and policy developments relevant to Ethiopian coffee, including the EUDR and the Nagoya Protocol (ABS), is desirable.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages spoken in coffee-producing regions (e.g., Afan Oromo) is an asset.
• Strong report writing, data organization, and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with the JICA expert team and Ethiopian counterparts.
• Ability to work independently between the short-term visits of JICA experts and to maintain project momentum and continuity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness and physical ability to undertake travel to coffee-producing regions.